BENEFITS OF A MINIMALIST LIFESTYLE

The origins of the  word "Minimalism" can be traced back to  a Post World War II era  cultural movement which influenced art, music and architecture. 

Minimalism in the modern society influences many aspects of life including fashion, construction, gardening, interior design, food, jewelry and weddings. "Minimalism" now captivates and illustrates  the concept of "LESS IS MORE' in a comprehensive sense. 

Minimalism has evolved into a Lifestyle which allows people to distance themselves from material possessions and surround themselves with minimal possessions that add value and bring joy into their lives.

Those who adopt minimalism tend to spend their money gaining once in a lifetime experiences rather than buying material goods.

Listed below are a few benefits that a "minimalist lifestyle" has to offer:-

FINANCIAL BENEFITS

When a person adopts a 'minimalist lifestyle', being intentional about what you purchase and what you choose to bring into your life becomes second nature to them. The followers of the 'minimalist lifestyle' question the necessity and the actual value  of the  goods  which they intend to  purchase.

- Do I really need this?

- Is it worth the price I'm paying for it ?

-Does it add value or joy to my current lifestyle?

-Am I just buying this because I'm sad/ angry/ bored?

- Do I HAVE THE CASH TO PAY FOR IT NOW? 

Making conscious and intentional decisions about what you buy, whether it is a bar of soap or an expensive TV and taking a few moments to remove yourself from the consumer mindset and think about your purchase will,
(a) prevent you from buying, and accumulating unnecessary junk
(b) prevent impulse purchases
(c) it will help you save your HARD EARNED CASH. 

Minimalism also advocates  buying  items which are versatile and of high quality, which will last you for a long time.

LESS CLUTTER

Clutter can be defined as 'an untidy collection of things which have no specific use'. A cluttered home can be a constant source of stress and hostility among Couples, especially if both of them are working parents. Since the storage space available a modern home is highly limited, it is wise to get rid of any material items that do not serve a purpose. 

Although getting rid of clutter completely seems like an impossible task, it is possible to reduce the clutter by implementing certain guidelines.

-Follow the one in-one out rule 

-Digitize kids artwork and photo albums. 

-Enforce one bin or basket Rule for children's toys- once their respective bin or basket is full of toys, the child must be given the responsibility to pick out the toys which they no longer play with, and teach them to  pass them along to another child. This practice will instill qualities, such as generosity and sharing in children from a very young age. Further, the children will also learn to value and take care of their belongings. 

-During holidays and special occasions, request Family and  close friends to spend time with you and share experiences together, instead of  buying material gifts. Tell them that you value their time, advise and the special memories more than any material gift . 

-Donate, re-purpose, and, recycle goods that you do not use. 

SAVES TIME

" IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE TIME IS A LUXURY MOST PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD" .

The amount of time you spend daily taking care of your material possessions  will most certainly surprise you. Be it dusting, cleaning, repairing or sweeping, the constant navigating around possessions eats away your precious  time. By adopting minimalist practices in to your daily life, it will allow you to utilize that time for something more meaningful, such as,  

-spend time with your family, 

-less material goods means less time spent cleaning and organizing. 

-spend time on something that you enjoy- perhaps read that book you bought last year which has been gathering dust on the bookshelf, play a board game with your children, spend time on your long forgotten hobbies (stamp collection/ coin collection), take a walk around the neighbourhood. 

-Exercise- even if it is for 15 minutes. 

-Meditate 

-take a few moments to sit down in a quiet place and relax. Enjoy a cup of tea/coffee, without having to worry about the next chore in your to-do list. 

-play with your pet. 

SAVES THE ENVIRONMENT 

Some studies state  that we are using 30% more natural resources than what is sustainable for our planet. It has been stated  that in the near future we will require the resources of Two Planets to sustain  human life on earth.

Although minimalism may not be the complete  solution to prevent the massive destruction of the environment and to reduce overuse of non-renewable natural resources, it has started a dialog about the importance of sustainable living and protecting natural resources.

When someone makes a conscious decision to live a more minimalist and intentional life, it is easier to buy environmentally friendly products and adopt environmentally friendly habits.

-Plan your grocery shopping- go through the pantry and fridge, take in to account what you have leftover and  plan your meals. 

-Shop with a list to stop impulse buying and to prevent forgetting an essential ingredient in a recipe. 

- buy from farmers or companies that use sustainable farming practices

-Buy fresh, in season produce - it has a higher nutritional value, and has a smaller carbon footprint than the imported produce. It will also add more variety to your diet. 

-Take your own re-usable bags when you go shopping. 

-Buy only what you need and reduce  household food waste. 

In conclusion, it is safe to say that when someone adopts  practices of minimalism to their everyday life, the benefits experienced by them and the environment will drastically outweigh the minor inconveniences they will  face at the beginning as they adapt to the new lifestyle. 

Even if you are not ready to become an extreme minimalist i.e. if you are in no position to give away all your belongings, and pack your life into a back pack to travel the world (for lack of money, family obligations, or simply lack of courage to take such a step), by simplifying your life in a very small scale, and incorporating a few minimalist lifestyle changes, you will still  be able to enjoys the abundance of benefits that  minimalism  has to offer.